Giorgio Armani’s death has rocked the fashion world, with several celebrities and style icons sharing touching tributes to the late designer. He was a pioneer in the world of menswear and went on to build his eponymous brand into a billion-dollar empire, expanding into accessories, perfumes, restaurants, hotels, cosmetics and furnishings. Hailing from Northern Italy, he started out as a window dresser in a department store before becoming one of the industry’s leading designers. Just days before his death, the 91-year-old reflected on his incredible career and revealed his one regret in life.
Looking back
“I don’t know if I’d use the word workaholic, but hard work is certainly essential to success,” Giorgio told the Financial Times in an interview published on August 29. “My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family.”
He added that his “greatest weakness is that I am in control of everything,” as evidenced by his absence from Milan Fashion Week in June, an event which he had never missed. “I oversaw every aspect of the show remotely via video link, from the fittings to the sequence and the make-up,” Giorgio told the publication. “Everything you will see has been done under my direction and carries my approval.”
As for his greatest strength, the icon shared that it was the “ability to believe in my ideas and the determination – sometimes the stubbornness – to carry them through.”
Moving forward
Questions of succession arose during the interview, with Giorgio revealing that he wanted a smooth and peaceful transition of power after his death. “My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me, such as Leo Dell’Orc [head of men’s design for the Armani Group], the members of my family and the entire working team,” he said. “I would like the succession to be organic and not a moment of rupture.”
Giorgio previously opened up about who would take on the mantle once he had passed away, sharing that he had made secure plans of succession. “In these years I’ve surrounded myself with skilled collaborators, people that I trained and helped develop while thinking of my succession,” he told GQ in 2015. “So I can assure you that everything is in place. When the time is right, my team will move on its own, standing strong against any flood.”
© AFP via Getty ImagesHe added that success had cost him many personal relationships throughout his life. “I understood, too, that success like this requires total commitment, if it is going to take on a life of its own,” Giorgio explained. “I’m disappointed that many times I had to give up relationships for work.”
© GettySaying goodbye
The Armani team announced their fearless leader’s death via social media on Thursday, writing: “In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.”
© Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImThe statement continued: “But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.” Giorgio launched his brand in 1975, and quickly became known for his perfectly tailored pieces and timelessly elegant vision.
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